Off-Road Driving Precautions; To Prevent Water Damage; When You Drive Through Water; Inspection After Off-Road Driving - Lexus RX 450H Owner's Manual

WARNING

Off-road driving precautions

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Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death, serious injury
or damage to your vehicle:
Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving in danger-
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ous places.
Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving off-road. A bad bump could jerk
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the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands and especially your thumbs on the
outside of the rim.
Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in sand, mud,
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water or snow.
After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., check that there is no
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grass, bush, paper, rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the underbody.
Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the vehicle is used with these materi-
als trapped or adhering to the underbody, a breakdown or fire could occur.
When driving off-road or in rugged terrain, do not drive at excessive speeds, jump,
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make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss of control or vehicle rollover
causing death or serious injury. You are also risking expensive damage to your vehi-
cle's suspension and chassis.
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NOTICE

To prevent water damage

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Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the hybrid battery
(traction battery), hybrid system or other components does not occur.
Water entering the engine compartment may cause severe damage to the hybrid
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system. Water entering the interior may cause the hybrid battery (traction battery)
stowed under the rear seats to short circuit.
Water entering the hybrid transmission and rear electric motor (traction motor) will
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cause deterioration in transmission quality. The malfunction indicator may come on,
and the vehicle may not be drivable.
Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings, causing rusting and premature fail-
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ure, and may also enter the hybrid transmission case, reducing the gear oil's lubricat-
ing qualities.

When you drive through water

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If driving through water, such as when crossing shallow streams, first check the depth of
the water and the bottom of the riverbed for firmness. Drive slowly and avoid deep
water.

Inspection after off-road driving

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Sand and mud that has accumulated around brake discs may affect braking efficiency
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and may damage brake system components.
Always perform a maintenance inspection after each day of off-road driving that has
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taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduled maintenance
information, refer to the "Warranty and Services Guide/Owner's Manual Supple-
ment/Scheduled Maintenance".
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